The Perfect Proportions
Let's start this section with a video. This is part of Jean Kilbourne's series, "Killing Us Softly". It is a good way to review the concepts from the first
section and introduce the first "myth" -- the perfect proportions..After watching this video, if you are interested in more information from Jean Kilbourne, check out her book So Sexy So Soon. This is not a Christian resource, but is well-written and gives many practical ideas.
section and introduce the first "myth" -- the perfect proportions..After watching this video, if you are interested in more information from Jean Kilbourne, check out her book So Sexy So Soon. This is not a Christian resource, but is well-written and gives many practical ideas.
The famous Barbie doll is seen as having the perfect measurements. If she were a real persn she would b 5’9”, have 36 in bust, 18 inch waist and 33 inch hips, yet only weigh 110 pounds. With these measurements, she wouldn't be able to walk upright or even give birth to a child! In fact, magazine ads seem to give us the impression that we must be slender, but still have a lot of cleavage -- yet, this isn't the way nature works! Even
campaign like Dove show large-boned women but who are muscular with tight abdomens and trim thighs…this still doesn't look anything like a realistic figure. Beauty standards have changed from the 16th century to the 21st century. Even within the past 50 years, we have seen several shifts in what society would view as the "ideal" figure. Click her for a timeline: The Thinning of Women |
How can we possibly keep up with the ever-changing standards? That's where the big businesses come in -- hair products, makeup, skin care, etc. And when beauty products aren't enough, they use the computer mouse to enhance models images.
Look at the images below to see examples of how photos are digitally enhanced.
Equality Gap
These beauty standards only create more inequality between socioeconomic classes and different races. Only the rich and privileged can afford to buy the hair, skin, and makeup products that are required to maintain these looks. . Very rarely do you see models who are of other ethnicities -- including African - Americans. In the documentary "Girl Like Me", young women describe what it is like to grow up in a culture which seems to value light skin over dark skin.
Roots
Let's get to the heart of the matter? Why is media so successful? Because they understand that we want to be satisfied, recognized, successful, and desirable. They lead us to believe that being "beautiful" will gives us those things. This should not surprise us, though. It all started in the garden of Eden. Genesis 3 tells us that when Even saw the fruit she was it was good for food (she felt it would satisfy her, make her feel better). She also saw that is was pleasing to the eyes (desirable to look at). And finally, the verses tell is that is was good for wisdom (it would bring success and recognition). These are the same things that we are promised if we can make ourselves look beautiful enough. But we cannot be conformed to the world, as it says in Romans 12:2. We cannot allow the media to fit us into its mold of what a perfect woman should look like. Rather, we need to "transform our minds" and strive towards what will please God -- rather than looking for recognition from others. God's standards do not change (unlike the constantly fluctuating ideals of beauty)!
External Beauty
What does the Bible say about external beauty? Here are a few verses to look at. If you would like to make comments on the verses, feel free to submit them in the boxes provided.
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There are many instances in the Bible where a woman's outer beauty caused problems. Think of Sarah...her husband felt it was necessary to lie on two different ocassion because he was afraid he would be killed because she was so beautiful. Remember Rachel? She was the beautiful sister and the one favored by Jacob. The rivalry between the sisters caused contention between their sons. The Bible also tells us the extenral beauty is only temporary. It will not last, no matter how hard you try to cover it, enhance it, or modify it -- eventually time will catch up with you! Look at the pictures of the two ladies below. Do you know who they are?
Pictured on the left if Mary Kay Ash -- the founder of Mary Kay cosmetics. As you can see, using her own skin care and makeup products hasn't exempted her from the natural consequences of time. On the right is Elizabth Taylor -- another example of how the aging process affects us. Even using makeup can't cover up the lines, wrinkles, circles, and sagging skin. This can be discouraging if you spend your life feeling that your value is mainly determined by how you look.
FADING BEAUTY |
What does God's word have to say about things that do not last? Read these verses. Add comments or observations if you would like!
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God's Word gives us good news! While our hair, skin, and figures may be slowly "wasting away"...our heart, soul, and spirit are being "renewed" each day! So, rather than trying to achieve the ideal "look" that is impossible to attain -- let's focus on reaching God's standards. Instead of placing our priorities on EXTERNAL beauty, we need to work on ETERNAL beauty. And, of course, there are verses that show us exactly how to do this!
ETERNAL BEAUTY
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The I Corinthians verse is written in the context of marriage -- giving the advantages of being single. The phrase I would like to emphasize it when Paul says "devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit". This reminds us that our bodies are for God's glory. Just as we want the Holy Spirit to work in our hearts, we should also surrender our physical bodies to Him. This includes our appearance -- our hair, skin, nails, weight. They all should be devoted to Him. I Peter 3: 4 is one of my favorite verses! This is not to say that we can't dress nicely, use make up, wear jewelry, or try to maintain a healthy figure. It is a reminder that those things should take second (or maybe even third or fourth) place to our inner beauty. This beauty will not fade (or sag, or wrinkle, or waste away) as we get older. It is "unfading"! Finally, it is our spirit -- our gentle and quiet manner that God finds valuable. Many people who do not understand the meaning of these words may think that it means we should be passive doormats. This is not the case at all! "Gentle" refers to strength under control. It is the same word used of a soldier's horse -- a powerful animal that willingly submitted to its master's wishes. "Quiet" does not mean that we are not to speak. "Quiet" refers to an inner peace and calmness -- lack of worry, anxiousness fear -- that is exhibited when we have complete trust in our Master.
HEART TESTS
Here are some test "areas" to think about when examining yourself to see if you are focused more on external beauty or on eternal beauty.
MIRROR TEST
Do I spent more time in front of the mirror than I do in prayer or reading the Bible?
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WALLET TESTDo you spend more money on beauty products than you giving to the church or missions?
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TEMPLE TESTAre you worried about your weight, counting calories, and/or exercising because you want to be healthy and take care of the body God has given you? or is it simply because you want to wear a certain clothes size?
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GRATITUDE TESTDo you compare your appearance to others -- friends or celebrities? Are you jealous of someone else's hair style or figure? Do you complain about your appearance?
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Remember what is ADMIRABLE We are to set an example for others -- with our speech, our thoughts, our actions...when we complain about our bodies in front of others we are not setting a good example. |
To change our thoughts from external beauty to eternal beauty, we need to keep our mind focused on Christ. Everytime you start to fret over your appearance, think about Him. Use Philippians 4:6-9 to transform your thoughts, feelings, and actions. For example: Remember what is TRUE: You are wonderfully made. God did not make a mistake when He gave you freckles, a birthmark, or those other body features that you don't like. Remember what is NOBLE: The Proverbs 31 woman is extoled for many things, she is said to worth "rubies". Remember what is RIGHT: Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Use it accordingly! Remember what is PURE: Do not complain about how you look. You are arguing with God...saying that He didn't do a good enough job when He created you! Instead, be grateful, which will help you be pure and shine your light for others! Remember what is LOVELY: "Lovely" means "acceptable". Romans 12:2 says that our thoughts must be acceptable to God. |
Discussion Starters
Now that you understand the underyling message (and myth) of the perfect proportions, take a look a a few more examples of current media and how this myth is perpetuated. As you look at these illustrations, consider these questions:
- What are they trying to sell? (If it is an advertisement)
- Look at the colors of the text. Does it draw your eye toward are certain part of the picture?
- What are the captions saying?
- How does this ad make you feel?
- Are they telling you that you "deserve" to look beautiful...while at the same time saying that you aren't there yet?
- What Bible verses can you use to help "transform" your thoughts -- rather than "conform" them to the world's standards?
The video below is produced by the Dove "Evolution" campaign.
This is an excellent media production to show to young girls to help them understand
that what they see in the photo is not who the model really is!
PRACTICAL TIPS TO HELP GIRLS AND WOMEN FOCUS ON ETERNAL BEAUTY
1)Compliment girls on things besides their appearance…academic achievements, generosity, ideas, artistry…They need to know we value them for more than their looks, that other attributes are more important.
2)Don’t criticize your body. Make sure you“live” the “beautifully and wonderfully made” verse.
3)Write out some of these verses and post them on your mirrors, in front of you jewelry box, etc.
4)Watch the "Voyage of the Dawn Treader" -- the third movie of the "Narnia" series. In this sequel, an evil green mistbegins to feed on the characters' weaknesses. Lucy's temptation is that she wants to look like her older sister. Aslan shows her what the consequences would be if her wishes came true. Talk about this lesson and look for Bible verses to learn how to fight the desire to compare yourself with others.
5)Check out this tips from http://www.dosomething.org/tipsandtools/11-ways-to-stop-worrying-about-your-body
6)Pray, Protect, Select, and Connect! (see Part 1 for more information)
Interested in learning about how clothing and the media sends women (and men) destructive messages? Navigate to Part 3: Reveal to Appeal!